Illuminated cooler receptacle

ABSTRACT

An illuminated cooler including: a base receptacle; a lid; a series of lights in the interior of the base receptacle; and a solar panel across a top surface of the lid. The series of lights may be place along a top perimeter of an interior of the base receptacle and placed on a lighting track. The series of lights may be placed on at least one side of an interior of the base receptacle. In one particular embodiment, the base receptacle includes a battery as an alternative power source.

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/662,805 filed on Jun. 21, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an illuminated cooler receptacle.

2. Description of Related Art

Coolers are used to enjoy beverages and other food products in aportable manner. Normally coolers are used at cookouts, tailgating,picnics, beach activities or while traveling on the road. Occasionallycoolers may be used at night because some of these activities may carryon into the evening hours. As a consequence light may become limited andthe ability to see in the cooler may be limited. Therefore it would beadvantageous to have a cooler that was equipped with some type oflighting device or fixture in order to provide adequate lighting withinthe cooler during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an illuminated cooler comprising: abase receptacle; a lid; a plurality of lights in the interior of thebase receptacle; and a solar panel across a top surface of the lid. Theplurality of lights may be place along a top perimeter of an interior ofthe base receptacle and placed on a lighting track. The plurality oflights may be placed on at least one side of an interior of the basereceptacle. In one particular embodiment, the base receptacle includes abattery as an alternative power source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of an illuminated cooler receptacle ina closed position in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates a front view of an illuminated cooler receptacle inan open position in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a cooler, which is illuminated byinterior lighting for the cooling compartment. The present inventionincludes a series of lights around the lid opening of the cooler thatilluminate the interior of the cooler during use. In this particularembodiment, the lights are installed as LED lights that are powered by asolar panel that is installed on the top surface of the lid of thecooler. The cooler lid provides an exposed surface for the installationof the solar panel. During the daylight hours the interior lights areinactive and during the night a sensor provides an automaticillumination of the lights once the lid is open. A battery is installedin the cooler that connects directly to the lighting and provides analternative energy source for the lights. The cooler receptacle may bemade of plastic or other suitable insulated materials to provide a coolenvironment for items within the interior of the cooler.

In reference to FIG. 1A, an illuminated cooler 100 is depicted inaccordance with the present invention. The cooler 100 includes a basereceptacle 110 and a lid 105. The base receptacle 110 provides aninterior as shown in FIG. 1B for the placement of items to be stored inthe cooler 100. The cooler 100 in a closed position exposes a solarpanel 120 that is placed along the top surface of the lid 105. In anopen position as shown in FIG. 1B, the lid exposes a series of lights140 along the top perimeter of the interior of the receptacle 110. Thelights 140 are placed on a lighting track and in this particularembodiment extend around the entire interior perimeter of the basereceptacle 110. Alternative arrangements may be contemplated for theseries of lights 140 such as placement on a particular side or sides ofthe interior surface.

The base receptacle 110 further may include a battery 130 as a backup oralternative battery for use in situations where the solar power is notin a position properly charge the lights 140. An activation switch 150may also be installed on the interior of the base receptacle 110. Theswitch 150 may be on the interior or alternatively exterior of the basereceptacle 110. Further in another alterative embodiment the basereceptacle 110 includes a plug outlet 108 to allow the user to connectto the power sources provided in the base receptacle 110.

The illuminated cooler 100 may be made of plastic or other suitableinsulation material that provides a cool environment on the interior ofthe base receptacle 110. As stated above the lights 140 may remaininactive during the day and activated at night by depression of theactivation button 150 or alternatively a sensor 115 may be availablewithin the interior of the base receptacle 110 that detects darkness andactivates the lights 140 into an on position while the lid 105 is open.The backup battery 130 ensures that the lights remain ready to use underany weather conditions or drop of solar powered energy. Use of theilluminated cooler in accordance with the present invention provides aneffective device for retrieving items in a cooler during nighttimehours. The instant invention has been shown and described in what itconsiders to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made there from within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An illuminated cooler comprising: a. a basereceptacle; b. a lid; c. a plurality of lights in the interior of thebase receptacle; and d. a solar panel across a top surface of the lid.2. The illuminated cooler according to claim 1, where the plurality oflights is place along a top perimeter of an interior of the basereceptacle.
 3. The illuminated cooler according to claim 2, where theplurality of lights is place on a lighting track.
 4. The illuminatedcooler according to claim 1, where the plurality of lights is place onat least one side of an interior of the base receptacle.
 5. Theilluminated cooler according to claim 1, where the base receptacleincludes a battery as an alternative power source.
 6. The illuminatedcooler according to claim 1, where an activation switch is installed onthe interior of the base receptacle.
 7. The illuminated cooler accordingto claim 1, where the base receptacle includes a plug outlet as a powersource for other devices.